NBA PREVIEW: Bucks at Knicks (Tonight at 7:30 PM EST; TV: MSG)

The much-anticipated debut of Carmelo Anthony for the Knicks will happen tonight at Madison Square Garden. Photo: Reuters

After months of speculation and rumors, star forward Carmelo Anthony will finally be wearing a New York Knicks uniform.

Madison Square Garden will be buzzing when the starting lineups are announced, and when Anthony's name is called, expect a roar to come over the famed arena.

Knicks' fans have been waiting for a moment like this.

Even though there has been elation over the arrival of Amare Stoudemire, Knicks' fans felt slighted that they didn't land either LeBron James or Dwayne Wade.

With the combination of Stoudemire and Anthony, the Knicks finally have a tandem to be excited about. For the first time in several years, there is legitimate optimism in New York for their basketball team.

Anthony is averaging 25.2 points per game this season, just a hair above his career average.

The other major addition to the Knicks is Chauncey Billups. The veteran guard hasn't shown much signs of slowing down, averaging 16.5 points per game and shooting 43.8 percent, which are both better than his career average. Billups is also among of the greatest free-throw shooters in NBA history, and is averaging 92.3 percent from the line, which is second best in the NBA this season.

Adding Anthony and Billups may be the recipe for the Knicks to advance deep into the playoffs, and the New York fans and media are well aware of the potential. Tonight's game is expected to attract an energetic crowd.

The Milwaukee Bucks will be trying to spoil the party.

After returning from injury, Brandon Jennings has struggled to shoot from the field. The second-year player from Compton, California, will look to regain his stroke after the All-Star break.

He's joined by John Salmons in the backcourt, who dropped 33 points on Anthony's Nuggets on February 16.

With 26 games remaining on their schedule, the Bucks are looking to claw back into playoff contention. They're currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, but less than four games out of the final spot.

The Bucks have had recent success against the Knicks, having won in eight of their last nine meetings. The Knicks haven't beat the Bucks at Madison Square Garden since a 91-88 win on November 30, 2007.